Hay-rack.



E. J. WELLS.

HAY RACK.

, APPLICATION FILED JAN.15, 1909.

Patented NOV.2, 1909.

m N\ KN N \N n 9 n 9 A Um m o W m \N? MN www m N m M mm M m n w m u E L ELMER. J". WELLS, or GRINNELL, IOWA.

HAY-RACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 15, 1909. Serial No. 472,526.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER J. l/Vnnns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grinnell, in the county of Poweshiek and State of Iowa, have invented a new and use ful Hay-Rack, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to the clamping means, whereby the longitudinal and transverse timbers composing the rack are connected.

The object of the present invention is to provide a fastening, by the use of which the parts constituting the rack may be quickly and easily assembled, or disconnected, and also to provide a fastening which is simple in structure and which will securely fasten the parts together.

With the foregoing objects in view, the invention consists in a novel construction and arrangement of parts, to be hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the drawing hereto annexed, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of one side of the rack, showing the application of the invention: Fig. 2 is a side elevation: Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line S-3 of Fig. 1: Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of the wear-plates hereinafter referred to.

The bed of the rack comprises longitudinal sills 5, supported on end stringers 6, and intermediate stringers 7. The sills support the end cross-bars 8 and intermediate crossbars 9. This arrangement of timbers is the usual one employed in hay-rack structures, and nothing is claimed with respect thereto, the invention being directed to the clamping means for fastening the parts together. The drawing shows only one side of the rack, but it is to be understood that the same clamping means are employed on the other side thereof. The sills 5 are secured to the end stringers 6 by a U bolt 10, between the branches of which the sill is received. In the stringer is made a vertical bolt-hole to receive one of the branches of said bolt, and the other branch thereof extends over the end of the stringer, as clearly shown llll'Flg. 3of the drawing. Over each end of the stringer at the front end of the rack are placed rub irons 11, to completely cover said ends. These rub irons also extend over the top and bottom of the stringers for a shortdistance inwardly, and in said portions are bolt holes, which are in alinement to receive the branch of the U bolt passing through the stringers. The other branch of the U bolt engages the outer-surface of that portion of the rub iron fitting over the end of the stringer. That portion of the rub iron which extends over the top of the stringer is interposed between said stringer and the bottom of the sill. The bend connecting the two branches of the U bolt engages that portion of the rub iron which extends beneath the stringer.

By the herein described rub irons the ends of the stringers are effectually protected, and the fastening means for the rub iron securely holds the same in place, and as said fastening means also serves to secure the sills to the stringers, the structure is simplified and no additional fastening is necessary to securethe rub irons.

The means for fastening the U bolt 10 comprises a stirrup, consisting of a pair of channeled plates, mounted on top of the sills. These plates are indicated at 12 and 13 respectively. The plate 12 has one of its flanges higher than its other flange, and said plate is so positioned 011 the sill that the higher flange engages the inner face of the end cross-bar 8. The plate 13 is mounted in the channel of the plate 12, with its flanges downwardly presented, said flanges being of equal height. The web portions of the two plates are formed with bolt holes through which the two branches of the U bolt pass, said branches projecting above the plate 13 and having nuts 14 screwed on said projecting ends, said nuts being screwed down against said plate 13. The two channeled plates project a suitable distance beyond the sides of the sills, so that the branches of the U bolt may pass through the bolt holes thereof. That end of the plate 12 which projects beyond the outer face of the sill also extends beyond the corresponding end of the plate 13, and is formed with a bolt hole to receive a bolt 15, on which a wing or other form of nut 16 is screwed, said nut seating against the bottom of the pro-. jecting end of the said plate. The bolt is formed with a hook 17, which engages over the top of the end crossbar 8. The hook terminates in a downturned portion 18. Between the hook and the cross-bar is interposed a wear-plate 19, which is secured to the top of the cross-bar, and has at one end a bolt hole 20 to receive the downturned end 18 of the hook and the edge of the plate is Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

The sills 5 are secured to the intermediate the branches of the U bolts 22, whereby they are prevented from slipping. These plates have upstanding flanges 26 at one end, which flanges engage one side of the cross-bar 9.

By the fastening means herein described, the cross-bars 8 and 9 can be removed from the sills 5, and the balance of the rack used as a rack for any rough or dirty work that a person does not wish to use the wagon box for, and, upon fitting the sills with side pieces, a stock or corn rack is had. The rub irons lleffectually protect the ends of the stringers, and they can also be applied to any form of rack other than the one herein described. It is not necessary to remove the nuts 16 from the bolts 15 to release the crossbars 8 and they are therefore less liable to become lost. The cross-bars can be released by merely unscrewing the nuts sufficiently to permit disengagement of the hooks 17.

What is claimed is 1. In a hay-rack, the combination with one of the longitudinal sills and a stringer; of a stirrup extending across the sill, said stirrup comprising channeled plates, one of said plates fitting in the channel of the other plate, and said plates being provided with bolt holes, a U bolt connected to the stringer and embracing the sill, and passing through the bolt holes of said plates, and nuts screwed on said bolt and engaging the top plate.

2. In a hay-rack, the combination with one of the longitudinal sills and, a stringer; of a stirrup extending across the sill, said stirrup comprising channeled plates, and one of said plates fitting in the channel of .the other plate, and a clamping member for connecting the sill and the stringer secured to said stirrup.

. 3. In a hay-rack, the combination with one of the longitudinal sills, a stringer and a top cross-bar; of a stirrup extending across the sill, said stirrup comprising channeled plates one of the said plates fitting in the channe of the other plate, and the last mentioned plate extending beyond the other plate and having a bolt hole, a hook bolt engageable over the top of the cross-bar and having its shank passing through said bolt hole, fastening means for said bolt, and a clamping member for connecting the sill to the stringer, secured to the stirrup.

4. In a hay-rack, the combination with one of the longitudinal sills, and a top crossbar; of a stirrup mounted on the sill, a hook shaped bolt secured to the stirrup, the hook of the said bolt extending over the top of the cross-bar and terminating in a downward bend, and a plate secured to the top of said cross-bar, between the same and the hook, said plate having at one end a notch to receive the shank of the bolt, and at the other end a hole to receive the downturned end of the hook.

5. In a hay-rack, the combination with one of the longitudinal sills, a stringer supporting the same, and a top cross-bar; of a plate secured on top of said sill, and having an upturned flange engaging one side of said cross-bar, the edge of the plate being notched I on opposite sides, a U bolt fitting over the plate, and having its branches extending through the notches thereof, the branches of said bolt extending on opposite sides of the sill, and through the stringer, and fastening means for said bolt.

6. In a hay-rack, the combination with one of the longitudinal sills and a stringer; of a plate fitting one end of the stringer and extending over the top and bottom thereof, the portions of the plate extending over. the top and bottom of the stringer having alined bolt holes, a stirrup extending across the sill, a U bolt connected to the stirrup and embracing the sill, one of the branches of said bolt passing through the bolt holes of the plate and through the stringer, and fastening means for the bolt.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

J. W. LEAMAN, GEORGE M. NIoHoLsoN. 

